4th Sunday of Lent(Cycle A, Year II)

Community Word: The word of God transforms us to a life of holiness.

Theme:We are transformed to a life of holiness when we live as children of Light.

Promise: “Awake and arise from the dead and Christ will give you light.” (Ep 5:14b)

Reflection:
Our theme for the week states: We are transformed to a life of holiness when we live as children of Light. Simply put, we can only be transformed to live a life of holiness and distinguish between the light and darkness in that context, through our relationship with Jesus Christ.

The first reading, from the 1st book of the prophet Samuel, clearly illustrates that our way of thinking and judgments does not conform to what is of God. Like, in choosing our leaders; our mindset is that we tend to be biased and prejudiced to persons who are highly educated, probably well-off materially, or even personable. Samuel had that tendency too. But being a man of God, Samuel surrendered his choices to our Living God, who appointed and instead anointed David, the least amongst the seven brothers.

There are many stories with the same characteristics as the appointment of David. Which makes us wonder whenever God has to choose somebody for a great mission. He seems to take pleasure at upsetting all logical rules of common sense. Another example is in choosing Israel, the least and smallest of all nations. Yet, it has become the symbol of a place for the salvation of many, clearly manifesting that God does not look at things and at people through human eyes. While man looks at appearances, the Lord looks at the heart.

In the 2nd reading, the fight is between good and evil, light and darkness. St. Paul admonishes us to be consistent in practicing our baptismal gifts and fruit in order to fight evil and darkness. That, we continue to be children of light in all our ways, to clearly and openly denounce darkness. And that one should not justify evil and darkness, find excuses for them or make them acceptable.

In the Gospel, Jesus has a better illustration on light and darkness through the blind man whom He healed because of the latter’s beliefs and faithfulness. People of our time hold as true only what can be seen with the eyes, felt through the senses, verified scientifically. We are convinced that in this way we can understand everything and that nothing is beyond our control. But God sent His Son Jesus Christ to cure and remedy such blindness – spiritual blindness, which leads to our salvation.

More often, we relate all our challenges and issues to someone else’s undoing or mistake and not ours. Yet, it was “I or me or us” who made choices which were laid before us that brought us to those challenges. Jesus admonishes us never speak of God’s punishment because that is a pagan way of imagining God – a punishing God. God is love; He never punishes anyone. It is all about our choices – light or darkness.

To the person who has received the light from Christ, the characteristics which you are to stand witness to should be that, you are free, you speak the truth fearlessly, your are courageous, you are sincere, you do not renounce the truth to please the powerful, you go on searching, youacknowledge that you have a lot to learn, lastly you are ready to be castigated rather than give up the light you have received. Because as we imbibe these characteristics, surely God is and will be with us all the time, as He commands and promises us:“Awake and arise from the dead and Christ will give you light,” (Ep 5:14b).
Prayer
Abba Father, cause me to always be in the light for Your greater, honor and glory. Amen.

Reflection Guide Questions:
1. Have you become different after receiving Jesus in your heart?
2. Despite of you dark past, and after receiving the Holy Spirit, can your circle of influence say “you are a changed person?” Like the blind man, can you stand for the truth?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
March 22, 2020 (Sun) -1Sm 16:1,6-7,10-13/Ps 23:1-3,3-4,5,6/Eph 5:8-14/Jn 9:1-41
March 23, 2020 (Mon – Is 65:17-21/Ps 30:2, 4, 5, 6, 11-13/Jn 4:43-54
March 24, 2020 (Tue) – Ez 47:1-9, 12/Ps 46:2-6, 8, 9/Jn 5:1-16
March 25, 2020 (Wed) – Is 7:10-14, 8:10/Ps 40:7-11/Heb 10:4-10/Lk 1:26-38
March 26, 2020 (Thu) – Ex 32:7-14/Ps 106:19-20,21-22,23/Jn 5:31-47
March 27,2020 (Fri) – Wis 2:1,12-22/Ps 34:17-18,19-20,21,23/Jn 7:1,2,10,25-30
March 28, 2020 (Sat) – Jer 11:18-20/Ps 7:2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 12/Jn 7:40-53

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”